With so many homes for sale in St. Louis Park MN, we’re living in a buyer’s market. It’s your job to ease potential buyers into your frame of reference for a favorable outcome. Your immediate goal is to maximize your bottom-line without incurring any major expenses.
It’s a stressful experience and with so many things going on in your mind, it can be easy to underestimate home inspections. If you don’t fix any of these 10 major issues, your buyer could try to re-negotiate the asking price or abandon the purchase altogether.
Table of Contents
Structural Damage
Structural damage to homes is a major red flag that can steal your chances of closing a deal. It’s really easy to cause structural damage to your home during construction or renovation projects – perhaps because an inexperienced professional improperly cut girders, trusses, or joists. These kinds of damages are not easy to fix and often require a sizable investment.
It is important to consult with a structural engineer to ensure your home is structurally sound. Depending on where you live, it may be important to obtain an engineer’s seal in order to sell the property.
The average price for structural repairs can range anywhere from $5,000 to $40,000 depending on the severity of the damage.
Water Stains
It’s incredibly easy for trained home inspectors to spot water stains – which are a sign of major issues with the house. It’s never worth your time to hide water stains because the truth will come out eventually – and then you’ll have to deal with trust issues with the buyer! “What else is the seller hiding from me?”
Never try to shrug water stains under the rug. Once you’ve spotted a water stain, hire a plumber to figure out the root cause of the problem and fix it.
Outdated Or Dangerous Wiring
Outdated or dangerous electrical wiring tops the list of major home inspection red flags. If the inspector discovers that your home has A) an out-of-date electrical system and B) dangerous wires, you’ll need to quickly hire an electrician to repair the house. This is a major expense that requires both time and money. These issues are easy to spot by routine checkups and will save you a lot of hassle down the line.
Damp Basement
Basement moisture is not an uncommon problem. Most basements are notoriously damp and naturally attract water. That being said, the moisture in your basement could be a sign of bigger underlying problems. It could indicate from toxic mold that is hazardous to your health or structural damage and everything in between.
There are various ways of preventing a moisture build-up in basements, these include proper grading, downspouts, and gutters to lead water out of your basement.
Roof Damage
One of the most important aspects of a home inspection is the roof. Inspectors will often get a closer look at the roof for possible signs of disrepair. If they have reason to believe that your roof needs to be replaced, you’re looking in at a hefty repair or replacement bill.
Home inspectors will look for other components installed on the roof, such as gutters, flashings, and chimneys, among others. If the chimney is in poor condition, it’s a sign of various issues such as structural damage, water damage, and mold growth.
Pests And Termites
It isn’t uncommon for pests to build nests in different areas of the house. Even a seemingly clean house may unknowingly have a house filled with critters. But the lack of cleanliness and hygienic isn’t the only concern here. Pests are known to cause damage to exposed structures overtime. Termites, for instance, have been known to erode parts of a home that could cost thousands of dollars in repair and treatment costs.
If your home is frequently plagued by termites, it’s best to hire a local pest company to routinely look for nests throughout the year.
Hvac Issues
It’s very easy for problems with HVAC systems to fly under the radar until they get picked up under a home inspection. Most HVAC units have a lifespan of about 20 years, depending on the maintenance and routine care. If your HVAC unit is past the point of repair and needs to be replaced, you’re looking at a possible expense of about $5000 (depending on the make and model) on the next unit you purchase.
This is why it’s best to hire an HVAC technician to perform a scheduled check-up of your unit at regular intervals of the year. They can also help with changing air filters, assessing efficiency issues, and sealing ductwork. Ductworks that have not been properly sealed often lead to the build-up of dust and debris in the crawlspace or attic, which can lead to allergies in your home.
Water Damage
It’s not uncommon for a homeowner to leave for the weekend to come home to a burst pipe – that’s tens of thousands in damages and restorations.
Water damage is a major issue that can affect all parts of the house and if allowed to fester can cause significant damage to property. Common reasons for water damage come from plumbing leaks, poor exterior drainage, and plumbing leaks. Either way, water isn’t good for the structural integrity of your house.
It can discolor beautifully painted walls, creep into areas of the property where it shouldn’t be, and warp floorboards. Worse still, the moisture due to water damage can lead to the formation of mold and invite vermin infestation.
Faulty Doors And Windows
Home inspectors often find broken doors and windows that don’t properly open or close. High foot traffic and usage strains these components to the point of wear and tear. As long as they don’t pose a major security issue, most homeowners just learn to live with it. Buyers, however, may not share the same perspective as sellers and will see this as a sign of neglect and poor maintenance.
Security Concerns
Buyers want to feel safe in their new home; this is why a home inspector will also look for potential security flaws in your house. Make sure the locks on your doors and windows are in perfect condition. The same also applies to smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Bonus points if you have fully functional surveillance systems.
With so many Robbinsdale homes for sale, sellers must take every advantage they can get to attract qualified buyers for their property. This is why, at The Advisory Realty Group Minnesota, we make the home selling process stress-free. Start selling now or sign up to get an instant, accurate home valuation